Six miners are still trapped inside a coal mine in Utah despite efforts made by rescue teams over the past two weeks. The mine’s owners announced on Sunday that a seventh hole will be drilled. 

A cave-in sealed off the workers on August 6 inside the Crandall Canyon mine, but so far attempts to release them or even make contact have failed. Three rescuers lost their lives after another tunnel collapse occurred last Thursday and officials decided to cease all operations after that incident.

Six holes have been drilled from the mountain top and surveillance equipment was lowered inside the mine chambers. But there were no signs of the six men aside from some indefinable sounds and the desolating image of an empty space.

The last hole revealed that there isn’t enough space to support life and mine officials considered that further operations may reveal the same results. The mine’s co-owner Bob Murray, said at that time the mine will remain closed for a period and employees would be given jobs at other mines in Illinois and Ohio.

That statement sparked the anger of the trapped miners’ families, who believe their loved ones are still alive and rescue teams must continue their operations. Therefore, a seventh hole will be drilled and other openings will be also checked one more time.

This last hole could be larger than the previous ones, enough to permit a capsule to bring out the men.

Richard Stickler, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) agreed that another hole should be drilled but also underlined the dangerous conditions the rescuers are working in.

According to media reports, the MSHA authorized a controversial coal extraction procedure known as “retreat mining” earlier this year at the Utah mine. This method permits the extraction of larger quantities of coal but is also dangerous due to the cave-ins deliberately provoked.

Experts criticized the measure, especially in Utah where ground movement represents a great risk for miners. It is believed that such seismic activity caused the accident two weeks ago, but opinions are still divided and the final results of the ongoing investigation are expected to shed light on this incident.